Changing of the Guard

By Donna Bumgarner, CPA

As Past President David Veyna mentioned in his final “President’s Message,” we are beginning our new fiscal year. As your new president, I look forward to navigating with you through the ups and downs of our economy over the next 12 months. Most of us practicing in the income tax arena are likely recovering from busy season. Those emerging from year-end financial reporting deadlines may feel similar relief. So now is the time to straighten up our work areas and move any items placed on the back burner to the front burner.

For the chapter, my priorities for the coming year will focus on two questions:

1. How can we inspire more chapter members to attend chapter events and perhaps benefit from taking on leadership roles?
2. How can we participate in uplifting our communities during these rocky financial times?

As assets on our chapter’s balance sheet, we have many hardworking and dedicated officers and directors on our leadership team. In addition, our committee chairs work diligently throughout the year to put on quality education and networking events. We are also supported by the high-powered team at CalCPA’s Redwood City office. However, our tremendous continuing education and networking events will only continue to exist if they area attended by chapter members and their guests.

I find great value in the events that I have attended, and so my challenge to each of you is to attend at least one additional event during the coming year. That kind of response would equate to more than 2,600 additional attendees! I always feel that it is a good day when I learn something new, make a new acquaintance or reconnect with someone I haven’t seen in a while. All of these outcomes are guaranteed to happen if you attend our chapter events.

A recent article in the AICPA News Update stated that now, more than ever, our country is looking to our profession for financial expertise. CPAs have volunteered in their communities to ensure that individuals, families and businesses have the information they need to weather the current financial crisis. We can provide an objective, rational voice to advocate that all individuals be personally accountable for their financial future. One way that CalCPA is assisting in this mission is through our Financial Literacy Program. More to come on this subject in future “President’s Messages.”

—Donna Bumgarner, CPA

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 at 11:14 am and is filed under President's Message. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.